What are estimated capital and supply expenses for adding a retina program?
The minimum you can expect to spend on retina equipment is $125,000, according to Scott Baratta of Ascent Health Care Advisors. He breaks down the capital costs like this: $50,000 for the average refurbished posterior segment vitrectomy machine, including light source; $25,000 for the necessary microscope modification (for faster turnover, you may want to do this to two microscopes); $25,000 for the laser; $5,000 for filters; $10,000 for surgical instruments; and $10,000 for a cryo unit. “You can easily be at $240,000 on capital costs [for retina] without blinking an eye,” says Steven R. Blom, RN, MAHSM, CASC, administrator of the Specialty Surgery Center in San Antonio, Texas. To test out a retina program, “we’re renting some of the equipment for a while. If it doesn’t work out, then the cataract surgeons will have a fancy microscope.” Further, says Mr. Blom, supply costs are “terribly high – retina uses more expensive supplies. If you’re not careful, you can easily be at supply costs
